Chris Meller

Alright, I know I’ve been one to bash Scoble for quite a while now, and I know I’ve dedicated at least one post to the purpose here. I’ve said that he has no original content and simply links and re-links to anything and everything that I’ve already read from more reputible sources.

I’m here today to tell you (my readers) and Scoble himself… I was wrong.

It’s been quite a while since I threatened to remove Scoble’s feed from my news reader, and almost as long since I actually considered doing so. In the months that have passed, I have become one of the loyal readers of Robert Scoble’s blog, and I have to admit, I’m more than a little hooked.

Sure he links to a lot of stuff I’ve already seen or read about elsewhere, but come on, that’s half the point of the blogosphere: to spread information around in all directions. I mean, just because 1 other blog happens to have gotten to my reader first doesn’t mean that the entire internet has already heard about whatever event of the day happens to be going around. I have no doubt that for many, Scoble’s blog is incredibly timely and informative.

So yes, I admit that Scoble does offer relevent and original content. It wasn’t until a few moments ago, however, that my mind actually changed not only about Scoble’s blog, but also Scoble the person.

I was reading through some of the remaining backlog of blog entries since my vacation, when I noticed that there were several new entries for Scoble’s blog. Since I’d already cleared out his entries, I wanted to hurry and read his new material. Amongst the new posts was one entitled “I guess a few people get physically ill when they read my blog”. It was short and sweet, merely linking to a thread on Scoble’s very own Channel 9 Forums entitled Sick of Scoble.

After reading Scoble’s response to the complaints, I have to admit that I have a whole new respect for the man. His responses are both level-headed, reasonable, and very personal. I have to admit that I would never remain so cool and calm under personal attacks (and haven’t in the past).

As I read his responses to a few of the attacks, some things came to mind:

>ninjagardgen: I can’t even read Channel 9 anymore without seeing him on a thread trashing stuff that isn’t made by Microsoft Huh? You obviously haven’t read my blog. I say nice things about Google, Apple, Yahoo, and others all the time. You do note that a lot of the things I hype up on my blog are also running on Linux servers, right?

I’ve never once seen Scoble trash something non-Microsoft. Sure he may be a little more pro-Microsoft than I am, but that comes with the territory and certainly can’t be held against him.

>nanite: maybe he should stop jumping all over google and firefox whenever they make a mistake. I was one of the first to come out and say I like Firefox and use it. Tell me, do employees of Coca Cola come and say they like Pepsi products? Doing this is very dangerous in corporate America. Do you even have a job?

When has he jumped on either? I don’t recall any horribly major “thrashing”s in recent memory, and the few complaints / comments I do recall were well within reason. Certainly nothing outrageous, nor anything he hasn’t dished back on Microsoft itself before.

>ninjagarden: Look at his rant a couple of months ago against BoingBoing where he accused them of not correcting a blog entry that turned out to be wrong (which Scoble never does!) even though they had an update for the story on their main page! Ninja: you have demonstrated again that you do not actually read my blog. I regularly say I’m wrong and correct my posts.

It’s true! I’ve seen it happen! Just because he may have missed one story doesn’t mean he never corrects himself, or even links to someone calling him out for being wrong.

>Koorb: I don’t read his blog because he doesn’t post anything interesting or insightful, I usually find it to be regurgitated opinions or viewpoints, but since there are so many blogs out on the internet I question the sanity of anybody who reads a blog they don’t like. Hmmm, well, I don’t know what blog you’re reading, but it doesn’t sound like mine. But, you’re absolutely right. There’s an unsubscribe button on every RSS aggregator I’ve seen. It’s there for a reason.

I have to admit, this was my view of his blog at first as well. I don’t know if he’s actually changed his content lately, or if I’ve just become more tollerant as I realized that’s what the blogosphere is about. One way or another, I’m a fan now…

>Orbit86: I’m sure Scoble doesn’t even care loll Orbit: I do care about how people view me. It’s a weakness of mine, actually. But, imagine you’re at a party and people are saying what a jerk you are over at the next table. Tell me you wouldn’t care. That said, I wrote the Corporate Weblog Manifesto before I came to Microsoft and one of the rules I put in there is “have a thick skin.” It’s one of the harder rules to follow.

Everyone cares about what others think about them to some degree. When we stop caring what others think of us, we lose a good portion of the driving force behind our lives. If you truly don’t care what others think of you, is there really a reason to strive to do better, to become better?

And with that, I’m off to bigger and better things. If nothing else, I’ve tried to support Scoble and show others that he’s really not a bad guy. Keep it up Scoble, I could still use that Remove button in my reader! ;)